Roxburghe Club; Rotz, Jean
The Maps and Text of the Boke of Idrography Presented by Jean Rotz to Henry VIII. Edited by Helen Wallis with a foreword by Viscount Eccles. Oxford: Printed for Presentation to the Members of the Roxburghe Club, 1981. Folio, half morocco, t.e.g.; pp. xvi, 96, [3]; 32 leaves of full colour facsimile. Limited ed., Rox. Pub. 244.
The Tudor dynasty always looked to the sea (save perhaps Mary with her preference for priests to sailors). Henry was driven by a need to improve the Navy to act as a bulwark against France. As part of this he hired professionals from across Europe to bring skills the English at that time lacked. One of those was Jean Rotz, a noted navigator and hydrographer. Unfortunately, there seems to have been a difference of opinion between Rotz and his employer as to the best use of Rotz' talents. Rotz produced this stunning work, showing French knowledge of the far-flung places of the world, whilst Henry remained sternly focused on the local, staring at the need to fortify the English Channel. In the end, Rotz cut a deal with the King of France to accept him back in return for intelligence and with Henry's death, he slipped away, leaving behind him his masterwork.